FAMU students continue to hit campus roads with Pace bikes

Pace bikes on FAMU campus.
Photo submitted by: Nubian Dae Jean-Charles

Until recently, the only modes of transportation for many FAMU students living on campus were walking and riding the Venom shuttle.

Thankfully, the new Pace bike program offered on FAMU’s campus has resolved many transportation issues among these students.

For example, Kitana Strokes, a bio pre-medicine major living in Palmetto South, has had problems in the past with catching the Venom shuttle due to inconsistent stop times. She now makes regular use of campus Pace bikes to get around.

“If I’m running late for class, I can just quickly rent a Pace bike instead of waiting on the Venom shuttle,” stated Strokes.

Funded by Zagster and launched in December 2017, Pace bike sharing is a new and welcome transportation program in Tallahassee. The bikes are strategically located in multiple areas around the city, such as Gaines Street, Cascade Park, Railroad square, College Town and Lake Ella. Additionally, the Pace cell phone application allows downloaders to conveniently rent bicycles.

“With Pace, riders can begin and end rides at any bike rack throughout the city... both Pace and public bike racks,” said Elana Boehm, Zagster’s General Manager of New Markets.

The five-step process is simple. First, download the Pace Bike Share app. Then, create an account using your credit card information. Next, find available bikes located on the map. Match the bike number and, finally, use the app to unlock the removable cable automatically.

The renting process is simple enough for anyone to use and is also very affordable, costing only one dollar for 30 minutes of use.

On FAMU’s campus, Pace bikes can be found in front of the cafeteria, by the Commons building, near Off-Campus Housing apartments and around the various campus dorms.

FAMU Venom driver Shaun Oglesby said, “I believe one of the purposes of the new bike program is to give students another form of transportation throughout campus rather than only relying on the shuttle.”

According to students, the Pace bike riding program has been beneficial for exercise, enjoyment, reduce of traffic. Moreover, the service has created a safer alternative for student traveling alone during night hours, allowing them to move more swiftly through campus.

One of the main goals of the Pace bike sharing program is to give users a more active, enjoyable and convenient mode of transportation.

“I enjoy exercising,” said Jayla Thomas, a FAMU animal science student and resident of the Villages, “but I usually don’t have time because of my class schedule. The Pace bike sharing program allows me to get around campus faster while pursuing a healthier life.”

Biancah Derival, a pre-occupational therapy student living on campus, said, “Sometimes I’d rather have my own way of transportation, rather than sitting on a packed bus that you have to wait for and can’t move on.”

It is safe to say that the Pace bike program at FAMU is here to stay, but students must take the proper intitative to care for the Pace bikes on campus. For example, returning the bikes back to their designated area within its paid time limit is a must.

So far, Pace has been very effective, garnering positive feedback. Hopefully, the program will continue to progress, creating a more vigorous way of travel.